The Squire a little puzzled by his wife's evident disinclination to interfere with the dinner-table politics got a faint suspicion that here had come into Grey Pine a new and positive influence.

He was more surprised that Mrs.Ann asked, "What did you say, Leila ?" "I?
Now, Aunt Ann, what would you have done or said ?" "Oh, voted with the Democrats, of course." "Oh, Mrs.Penhallow!" cried the Rector.
The Squire much amused asked, "Well, Leila, did you run away ?" "I--Oh, Uncle Jim! I said I was a democrat--I voted the Democratic ticket." "Did you ?" exclaimed Rivers.
"So James Penhallow and my brother Charles have lost a Republican vote," laughed Ann.
"But, Aunt Ann, I added that I was a Douglas Democrat." The Squire exploded into peals of laughter.

Ann said, "For shame!" "They decided to lynch me, but no one of them could catch me before Miss Mayo appeared on the playground and we all became demure as pussy cats.
She was cross." "She was quite right," said her aunt.

"I do not see why girls should be discussing politics." Rivers became silently regardant, and Penhallow frowning sat still.

The anticipated bolt had fallen--it fell in vain.